Help with FTO battery

[Chris_Heilong]

Hi, might sound silly but where on an FTO is the negative connector on the battery. Usually my other cars would have it clearly labeled and also have insulated rubber to protect the engine from electricity, mine has neither. Just while I am not insured for the moment so want to wait till next month to get insurance and want to disconnect the negative cable.

[goz_83]

The negative connector is the one nearest the headlights. You can put new connectors on. Get em in halfords for under a tenner

[Kace]

If you're looking to make sure nothing is draining your battery while you have it off the road, you should disconnect the positive, not the negative.

[Chris_Heilong]

sure if you disconnect the positive you would get electrocuted wouldn't you? or do you mean because it is a Jap battery things are different? I have disconnected the negative and tucked it down the side. Does anyone know if the battery would work with a normal charger, just got one from woodies, only 22 euro.

[Bernard]

You need a trickle charger if you plan on leaving it plugged in for long periods.
I bought one for €60 in my local motor factors a while back, it will automatically cut out when the battery is full and back in when the power goes down a little.
If the one from Woodies does that I'm sure it would say so on the box.

[Chris_Heilong]

Thank bernard, I ordered a trickle charger from ebay for a fiver still waiting on it to arrive. The one from woodies is a charger so dont think it has trickle features, my battery had a screw instead of a bolt, seems like the car had alot of DIY "it will do" attitude, you should have seen the state the Spoiler was in when I took it off today. One side had a screw and nut holding it in the other side had two nuts and one was rounded and they where located it the little holes where the normal spoilers clips are, so took a good hour to get off.

[Chris_Heilong]

This is the charger for anyone interested and its actally only €20. Cheapest I have ever seen. I remember I got one 4 years ago from Halfords which cost €50 and never bloody worked.

[goz_83]

if the battery is old...its fooked. No amount of trickle charging can save it.

[Bernard]

I just had a look at the picture you posted of your battery.... there's a + and a - marked on it.
Not sure if you noticed.

[Chris_Heilong]

I was looking a the picture for ages, I finally saw the plus symbol
Well at least I know the negative has a yellow strip going down it also. Thanks for pointing that out Bernard, I was looking in all the wrong places.

[goz_83]

Yep. Just where I said. Also, it's the positive you need to disconnect afaik. To be safe, it's good practice to to both.

[Kace]

sure if you disconnect the positive you would get electrocuted wouldn't you?

??? If you disconnect the positive terminal then there is no power feeding your car to 'electrocute' you.

[Chris_Heilong]

sure if you disconnect the positive you would get electrocuted wouldn't you?

??? If you disconnect the positive terminal then there is no power feeding your car to 'electrocute' you.

Then why is it red
Anyway, I always thought that the positive was live which it the reason you always disconnect the negative first and positive first when reconnecting.

I have followed your advice Kace and disconnected both, its only a 35 ah battery maybe I should look at an upgrade

[Kace]

35A is fine and is all an FTO needs. No need to upgrade unless you are planning to run significant ICE.

[goz_83]

The power comes from the battery, so if nothing is touching the terminals, the chances of electrocution are more likely to come from your missus after you spend a fortune upgrading. Also....twas me that recommended you disconnect both as it is safest

[Chris_Heilong]

Indeed it was, I won't upgrade then. I tried to start the car before I removed the battery and it didn't start so it was then I decided to come on and look for advice on removing the battery, I know the alternators can act up but it should be the battery as it was lying unused with Gerry and I only drove it for the few hours it was insured. I know the battery is safe(except for acid) when not connected but am sure its a bad idea to touch the positive with both connectors on. Yeah I also removed the Veilside spoiler and as you said before Goz; there is a bit of work needed, I can just see me spending loads of money trying to get everything right
Goz where did you order your leatherette covers from? was it rice rocket?

[goz_83]

No it wasn't rice rocket. tbh, I would rather not promote them until I get my new covers delivered. They are supposed to be here before the end of the week.

I will have to have a look at the car. Its always good to see another fto. When do you plan to get it driving?

[Chris_Heilong]

2 weeks time, you will be heading off to Spain soon right? I am bidding on some GX/GR break discs on ebay atm. trying to get bits and pieces, there are some nice car related deals coming up in Aldi this sunday. Electric car polisher €17.99 thank you very much.

[goz_83]

Yeah I have the Aldi polisher. Does the job. Although I think its the more expensive model i have. 40 quid i think. could be wrong.

Yeah i am heading to Spain soon.

What colour seats you thinking?

[Chris_Heilong]

Something like these would be class .

Was thinking a black n white interior theme would look well but the wife likes red.

I also bought one of these badges for the front

[goz_83]

If you're interested, I can do you a pretty good deal on the blue/white ones I have. It would be as simple as swapping over the seats. They are only a couple of months installed. There are two small tears where the harnesses go, but I have brand new reinforced replacements in the shed I haven't fitted. I am getting all black, full leather ones from the supplier, so I won't be having the blue/white look, which of course would suit a white car any day. You're more than welcome to take a look. I would be willing to let them go for €100. That's a good deal less than half of what I paid for them and also had to throw the brother a few bob for installing them. They were a sweetener for the gr, which he is selling, but it looks like there could be a buyer this week anyway.

RED??? What is she thinking? Looks ok in a black car, but not in a white fto imho.

[Chris_Heilong]

Your ever the businessman , Gary. Alright, sounds good. Only problem would be us finding time to do the seat swap

[goz_83]

Yes, indeed I am The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to switch seats. My bro has done it a couple of times already. He can do a switch in a few minutes. I just want to make sure my leathers will arrive before I part with the seat trims. I will be ringing the supplier to check them today.

[Chris_Heilong]

Sure send me a PM when they arrive.

[goz_83]

Rang the supplier today. Trims not sent, but promises they will be sent tomorrow. Blaming the factory and embroidery delay. I will keep you posted but it looks like it'll be sorted real soon.